The How Young People Are Faring (HYPAF) report series concentrates on transitions in the lives of young people (ages 15–24 years). The series was first published by the Dusseldorp Skills Forum (DSF) in 1999, but in 2008 was taken over by the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) in alliance with the Education Foundation. HYPAF 2008 was researched and compiled for DSF by researchers in the Centre for Post-compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning at the University of Melbourne.

HYPAF has two major topics: less than full engagement in study and work; and the youth labour market. HYPAF considers the study and employment situations of three groups: teenagers aged 15–19 years, young adults (aged 20–24 years), and those aged 15–24 years who had left school in the year prior to the reference year. HYPAF analyses labour force status, educational enrolment status (full-time, part-time, or not enrolled), and for school leavers - the highest year of school completed. It focusses particularly on those who are not 'fully engaged' in study or work. Full engagement includes being enrolled to study full-time, or employed full-time, or combining part-time study with part-time work.

HYPAF draws mainly upon ABS data; from the Census of Population and Housing, Education and Work, Australia and the Labour Force Survey, as well as external data sources such as the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Some indicators in HYPAF can be disaggregated by state, but the 'school leaver' population is too small to support further disaggregation.

DISSEMINATION

Previous releases of HYPAF were published annually on the DSF website (http://www.dsf.org.au) along with commentaries and other supporting material. From 2008, HYPAF publications will be available for download from the FYA website:

How Young People Are Faring 2008: Full Report.Foundation for Young Australians, Melbourne. How Young People Are Faring 2008: At A Glance. Foundation for Young Australians, Melbourne.